Here is the good news tho… I have learned something valuable. How to say no. Really. I have.

In the few months I have done a lot of stretching myself outside of my box. My network in business and in my home community has exploded so much and I was EXCITED! I thought it was an awesome wave and I didn’t want to stop riding it. Problem was, the ride had me.

Honestly, I have been managing my current responsibilities at OA and I just finished finding and hiring a City Manager for my small town. That took a TON of meetings. Getting something done in a municipality is a nightmare! You can not just open a req, and fill like any normal position. The amount of public meetings needed is more than enough for me to realize that I am glad I do not fill those positions on a full time basis. (Although, I have filled a position faster than cities in Ohio using an executive firm) Also, I was asked to be a consultant for my towns EMS provider. They are having alot of trouble. Thought I could do that and network with more people in our town, since working in Cincinnati, I never get a chance to do this type of stuff. Problem is, they are in a crisis mode, and I tried to get into it…Then things started to fall for me personally.

In the mean time of all of this, I have had awesome opportunities come to me professionally in the recruiting world. I wrote a small article for The Source, and Jim Stroud published my sourcecon post. I have had many requests to keep writing. So, I was also trying to think of things to write about on top of the many things already listed…

Think that is just it??? There’s more.

I also have an amazing friend and now have the privilege to call business partner. We are working on a start up. Cant say what, but it is going to be a big launch. I am hoping to write more about this just a few more weeks. The hours alone on reading, talking and conference calls is unbelievable. Starting a business is not for the weak or timid I can tell you. It not only takes blood, sweat and tears, it takes the dust left when you have no more.

And, last, but in no means least, my family. My amazing, wonderful, family.

You don’t see this on my resume or on posts, but if you know me personally, you know that my husband is a Pastor. He is the Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Greenfield Ohio. We live in a small town and I commute an hour and 20 mins to work and from work. Living in rural Ohio does not afford good working opportunities, and when you have a passion and talent to recruit, you go where the jobs are. I am hoping that changes with my start up, but until then, I am still making this crazy commute. Enough of my commute tho, and back to the family. With being a Preachers wife, there are a multitude of other things I handle outside of my work. I also deal with a stigma that Pastors wives are not ones that typically work or seek a career. (Note to you that may think that, read Prov. 31, whole chapter, then we’ll talk…) Anyhow, it does lead to people treating me poorly. I ran for City Council in my small town, and I received snail mail that was anonymous that threatened me. It would say a Pastors wife should be seen and not heard, or to my husband that he needs to control me and put me in my place or else. It was, and still is, a hard thing for me. I have a drive, a talent, and not everyone, even in the year 2008 can see that you can be a Pastors wife and have goals, talents and a drive to do something in life. This is a hard balance for me, and I can honestly say that I dont always balance things well. Which is the point of my post.

The other important part of my life are my four amazing children and one foreign exchange student. You read right 5 children. (Don’t ask about the grocery bill…) I have one in Highschool, one in Jr. High, to in elementary and our foreign exchange student at OSU in the Aerospace engineering program. They are all special and smart and beautiful. I can not find anything other than my husband that makes me happier than my children. Giving them a life and parenting I never received, is my ultimate goal in my career. It really isn’t about me, ever. It is, and for, them.

So, now that you have the readers digest version of my life.. You are probaly thinking… huh???? What is the point already?

I got excited about the successes.. and thought I was the bomb..

Then

I cracked

I took on too much

and I melted down.

Nothing like a drama movie, but things started falling apart. My temper was short, I was not sleeping at night. I would find myself up at 2 am using my laptop or berry. Then I just shut down. Lights were on and no one was home.

So, I have spent all this week clearing out the unnecessary and saying no to some, and yes to other things.

My first step to enlightenment??? Sleep. Rest.

Family time was next.

Then I asked my husband and close friends for their opinion. Let me tell you, that is not pretty. It is a hard pill to swallow, but having those who know you best to bring you back to reality is better than any $75 nut job.

I can tell you, I am still recruiting, that is something I enjoy and keeps my family going since the church isn’t able to support us financially. I am still working on the business. The city manager and ems, well, not on the plate.. and this is the first I have written in a while as you can see from my last post. My amazing hubby, kiddos, and our church, they are a constant, and I couldn’t breathe if I didn’t have them.

I don’t know an answer as to how to not to get overwhelmed. But I do know that stopping and getting off the ride and changing the speed is not only ok, it should be done alot more than we can ever realize.

Thanks for listen… Amie